Evidence Table Archives

'THE DASHING DRAG DETECTIVE'

Clive Johnstone retired to Benidorm for some fun in the sun.

He forgot that crime doesn't stay far behind.

Join him and his alter ego Vera Copsicle, as they hunt down the criminal and brings crooks to justice.

Humourous and slightly camp, with a sprinkle of sequins.

Detective stories set in the 'real' Costa Blanca featuring real places and history.

And a little white Mini Moke called 'Patrick' which you may see driving around.

BY DAY BENIDORM IS SUN, SEA & SANGRIA.

BY NIGHT ITS MURDER, MYSTERY & MAYHEM

COME FOR A HOLIDAY, STAY FOR THE CRIME.

LAUGHTER, LIES & LIPSYNC

Life is fun in the sunshine; all Clive Johnstone has to do is get through the long hot days, and then in the evenings he becomes Vera Copsicle, one of Benidorm's famous drag queens. Headlining at the 'Pink Carnation', all goes well until a talent scout dies in the club.

Was it murder? You bet it was, but not a simple one. Vera gets involved, and this leads to an amusing romp through Benidorm's streets and beach area. When it becomes clear that the death is related to the one case Clive never solved in the UK, "The Stamp Album case".

Sun, Sea, Sand & Sequins, and the real crime is how anywhere can make a profit on a €3.00 breakfast.

Available as an ebook, paperback and, at some point a special edition with a full case file full of evidence from the case.

AUTHOR'S DIGITAL EBOOK €2.99 >

Retail eBook & Paperback >

GEMS, GIRLS & GIGGLES

A missing diamond. A mysterious warning. And a performer with something to hide.

All eyes are on the stage when international sensation Sarah Bigendicken arrives in Benidorm.

Then a note appears.

A warning that Sarah’s diamond necklace is cursed.

It’s laughed off… right up until the necklace disappears from a locked safe.

Drawn into the mystery, Clive begins to uncover a trail of secrets that leads far beyond a missing jewel:

Because in Benidorm, even the most glamorous stories can hide something far more complicated underneath.

Perfect for readers who enjoy clever crimes, colourful characters, and a touch of the unexpected.

AUTHOR'S DIGITAL EBOOK €2.99 >

Retail eBook & Paperback >

Book cover for Music, Men & memories by Barrie J Wakeford featuring his Benidorm Detective Vera Copsicle, pink cover with bright red titles image of the Benidorm skyline through a window and a poison bottle with a pink carnation and tea set on a table

Men, Music & memories

Benidorm wasn’t always sunshine and cocktails.Back in the late 1960s, a group known as the Rat Pack helped shape the town’s rise until one of their own vanished without a trace.

The case was never solved.Decades later, life at the Pink Carnation is looking up. With business booming, owner Raymond Peacock has plans to expand, starting with a new tea room.

But when Clive Johnstone joins the search for the perfect property, the future takes an unexpected turn.

Because hidden inside one promising set of premises…is a body. Rolled in a carpet, Just waiting to be found.

Now, as Vera Copsicle, Clive is once again drawn into a mystery, one that reaches back into Benidorm’s past, where secrets have been left to gather dust for far too long.

Because in a town built on reinvention…

Not everything stays buried.

AUTHOR'S DIGITAL EBOOK €2.99 >

Retail eBook & Paperback >

Murder, Mayhem, and Mascara in the Costa Blanca…

Sun, sangria, and sequins—Benidorm is supposed to be a place where people come to forget their troubles.
Unfortunately for the killer, some problems refuse to stay buried.

Three separate stories to delight and amuse you – the perfect book to bring to Benidorm, or anywhere you like to holiday.

1: When a suspicious death happens in the Pink Carnation, Clive Johnstone—part-time entertainer, full-time mischief magnet—finds himself dragged into a murder investigation no one else wants to touch.

Enter Vera Copsicle.

Sharper than a stiletto and twice as deadly in heels, Vera sees what others miss—and she’s not afraid to ruffle feathers, fake eyelashes, or egos to uncover the truth.

2: And then a fabulous Diamond goes missing, and again Vera Copsicle, British, brilliant, and blessed with impeccable legs, she knows Benidorm’s nightlife better than the local police ever could.

3: Finally, between them, they have to solve a forty-year-old murder. A skeleton is hidden beneath a carpet, and the number of suspects increases. Clive and Vera must untangle lies, lust, and long-buried secrets before the killer strikes again. In a town where everyone hides something, Spain's best detective may be the only one brave enough to reveal it

Why Readers Love This Book

A drag queen detective you’ll never forget
A sun-soaked Spanish setting with a dark underbelly
Cozy crime vibes with sharp humour and real stakes
Perfect for fans of quirky amateur sleuths, camp humour, and clever twists

AUTHOR'S DIGITAL EBOOK €4.99 >

Retail eBook & paperback >

🔪 Murder, Mayhem, and Mascara in the Costa Blanca…

Sun, sangria, and sequins—Benidorm is supposed to be a place where people come to forget their troubles.
Unfortunately for the killer, some problems refuse to stay buried.

When a suspicious death rocks the holiday resort, Clive Johnstone—part-time entertainer, full-time mischief magnet—gets dragged into a murder investigation that no one else wants to touch.
British, brilliant, and blessed with impeccable legs, Clive knows Benidorm’s nightlife better than the local police ever could.

But when the clues lead somewhere dangerous, Clive calls on his secret weapon…

✨ Enter Vera Copsicle. ✨
Sharper than a stiletto and twice as deadly in heels, Vera sees what others miss—and she’s not afraid to ruffle feathers, fake eyelashes, or egos to uncover the truth.

As bodies pile up and suspects multiply, Clive and Vera must untangle lies, lust, and long-buried secrets before the killer strikes again. In a town where everyone has something to hide, the most fabulous detective in Spain might be the only one brave enough to reveal it.

Participate in a series of humourous short stories that initially appear unconnected. That is until the nuns appear.

And for some it's still a mystery how you can get a full English for only €3.00

AUTHOR'S DIGITAL EBOOK €4.99 >

Retail eBook & Paperback

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse